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Analects 19.25

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Original Text:

陈子禽谓子贡曰子为恭也仲尼岂贤于子乎子贡曰君子一言以为知一言以为不知言不可不慎也夫子之不可及也犹天之不可阶而升也夫子之得邦家者所谓立之斯立道之斯行绥之斯来动之斯和其生也荣其死也哀如之何其可及也

Translation:

Other Translations:

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, “You show reverence to Confucius, but how could he be more worthy than you?”

Zigong replied, “A gentleman can be judged wise or unwise on the basis of a single comment—this is why one cannot fail to be careful in one’s speech. One cannot equal the Master anymore than one can climb a stairway to the heavens. Had the Master acquired control of a state or noble family, then, as they say: ‘When he raised them up, they would stand; when he led them forward they would advance; when he comforted them they would come; and when he moved them they would become harmonious.’ His birth was glorious and his death was universally mourned. How could anyone equal him?”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Chen Ziqin said to Zigong, You are being too modest. How could Zhongni be a worthier man than you?

Zigong said, The gentleman speaks one word and shows that he is wise, speaks one word and shows that he is unwise. Therefore, he must be careful how he speaks. Our Master can no more be equaled than one can mount a stairway to the sky. If our Master were to preside over a state or a powerful family, then, as the saying has it, If he raised them, they would stand; if he led, they would go forward; if he chose peace, they would flock around; if he moved, they would move in harmony. In life he is glorious; in death, deeply mourned. How, then, could he be equaled?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 15.3

Leave a Comment / Analects, Analects - Book Fifteen

Original Text:

子曰赐也女以予为多学而识之者与对曰然非与曰非也予一以贯之

Translation:

Other Translations:

The Master said, “Zigong! Do you take me to be one who has come to understand through learning a wide variety of things?”

Zigong responded, “Yes. Is this not the case?”

“It is not. I bind it all together with a single thread.”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

The Master said, Si (Zigong), you suppose that I have studied many different matters and retain them in my memory, don’t you?

Zigong replied, Yes. Isn’t that so?

The Master said, No. I have one thread that links it all together.

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.

Analects 13.15

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Original Text:

定公问一言而可以兴邦有诸孔子对曰言不可以若是其几也人之言曰为君难为臣不易如知为君之难也不几乎一言而兴邦乎

曰一言而丧邦有诸孔子对曰言不可以若是其几也人之言曰予无乐乎为君唯其言而莫予违也如其善而莫之违也不亦善乎如不善而莫之违也不几乎一言而丧邦乎

Translation:

Other Translations:

Duke Ding asked, “A single saying that can cause a state to flourish—is there such a thing as this?”

Confucius replied, “There is no saying that can have that sort of effect. There is, however, something close. People have a saying, ‘Being a ruler is difficult, and being a minister is not easy.’ If this saying helps you to understand that being a ruler is difficult, does it not come close to being a single saying that can cause a state to flourish?”

Duke Ding asked, “A single saying that can cause a state to perish—is there such a thing as this?”

Confucius replied, “There is no saying that can have that sort of effect. There is, however, something close. People have a saying, ‘I take no joy in being a ruler, except that no one dares to oppose what I say.’ If what the ruler says is good, and no one opposes him, is this not good? On the other hand, if what he says is not good, and no one opposes him, does this not come close to being a single saying that can cause a state to perish?”

Confucius, & Slingerland, E. (2003). Analects: With selections from traditional commentaries. Hackett Publishing.

Duke Ding asked, Is there one word that can bring prosperity to the domain?

Confucius replied, Words alone cannot do that. But there’s a saying that might come close. People say, To be a ruler is difficult; to be a minister is not easy. If the ruler understands that it is not easy to be a ruler, this would come close, would it not, to “one word that can bring prosperity to the domain”?

And is there one word that can bring ruin to the domain? asked the duke.

Confucius replied, Words alone cannot do that. But there’s a saying that might come close. People have a saying, I have no delight in being a ruler. My sole delight is making certain that no one contradicts my words.

If he is a good ruler and no one contradicts him, that would be good, would it not? But if he is not good and no one contradicts him, this would come close to being “one word that can bring ruin to the domain,” would it not?

Confucius, & Watson, B. (2007). The Analects of Confucius. Columbia University Press.